Changes

Relevant as is this general subject, Dr. el-Attassi did not let historic fact inhibit his imagination.

Relevant as is this general subject, Dr. el-Attassi did not let historic fact inhibit his imagination.

Otherwise he might have recalled that his own kinsman and a predecessor in the Syrian presidency, Hashim el-Attassi, not only congratulated the pro-Nazi rebels in Baghdad in 1941, but also called on all Syrians to help the revolt prevail. (Which, incidentally, did not disqualify him from another, post-war, term as President of Syria.) He might also have reminded us that Syria as well as Egypt l, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon did not declare war on Nazi Germany until February 1945, when her defeat had practically been accomplished. They acted only days before March 1, 1945, which was the deadline for the status of belligerent ...against the Axis required for membership in the United Nations and participation in its founding conference in San Francisco. (Just the same , the gesture was to be paid for with the life of the Egyptian responsible for it , Prime Minister Ahmed Maher, who was assassinated by the Moslem Brother-hood.)  

Otherwise he might have recalled that his own kinsman and a predecessor in the Syrian presidency, Hashim el-Attassi, not only congratulated the pro-Nazi rebels in Baghdad in 1941, but also called on all Syrians to help the revolt prevail. (Which, incidentally, did not disqualify him from another, post-war, term as President of Syria.) He might also have reminded us that Syria as well as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon did not declare war on Nazi Germany until February 1945, when her defeat had practically been accomplished. They acted only days before March 1, 1945, which was the deadline for the status of belligerent ...against the Axis required for membership in the United Nations and participation in its founding conference in San Francisco. (Just the same , the gesture was to be paid for with the life of the Egyptian responsible for it , Prime Minister Ahmed Maher, who was assassinated by the Moslem Brother-hood.)  

But the Arab record vis-a-vis the Nazis was not merely one of passivity. On the contrary, throughout the Arab world, hopes had been placed on Hitler, not only because he was an enemy of the British enemy, but also because the ideology and temperament of Nazism were in many ways attractive the Arabs. Already in the 1930's John Gunther found that "Hitler is tremendously popular with the Arabs.... the greatest contemporary Arab hero  is—Adolf Hitler."

But the Arab record vis-a-vis the Nazis was not merely one of passivity. On the contrary, throughout the Arab world, hopes had been placed on Hitler, not only because he was an enemy of the British enemy, but also because the ideology and temperament of Nazism were in many ways attractive the Arabs. Already in the 1930's John Gunther found that "Hitler is tremendously popular with the Arabs.... the greatest contemporary Arab hero  is—Adolf Hitler."